joint for pile shell sections



March 1964 J. R. BAlTTlNGER JOINT FOR FILE SHELL SECTIONS INVENTOR. JHcK R.Bfil7'7'/NGER HTTORNEY "Wi l H H" H 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 7, 1961 March 24, 1964 J. R. BAITTINGER 3,125,858

JOINT FOR PILE SHELL SECTIONS Filed April 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' JHcK R. BH/TT/NGER BY w I 7?" F/TTORNEY J. R. BAITTINGER JOINT FOR FILE SHELL SECTIONS March 24, 1964 Filed April 7, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JHCK R. BFI/TT/NGER HTTORNEY United States Patent 3,125,858 JOINT FOR PILE SHELL SECTIONS Jack R. Baittinger, 2 Wheatley Court, Scotch Plains, N .J assignor of one-half to John J. Dougherty, Cedar Grove, NJ.

Filed Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 101,515 9 Claims. (Cl. 61-53) This invention relates generally to the art of piling and more particularly to a pile shell joint, to the method of making the same and to the fittings utilized therein.

Piles are used to support or to form foundations for structures such as buildings, tanks, piers, bridges, conduits, wharves and the like by inserting them into or through the yielding surface strata far enough to obtain a solid support for the principal structure. In some circumstances, piles of great length are needed, reaching one hundred feet in length. Such piles are expensive and require expensive equipment to handle them, which equipment is neither owned nor available to small contractors,

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved method of making an elongated pile composed of short sections of pile shell sections at the side of the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved joint between pile shell sections that is leakproof and that positively locks the shell sections against displacement or distortion by internal or external forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint between pile shell sections whereby after the sections are in position in the joint, leakage from the joint is prevented.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved joint of this type that is economical to manufacture, rugged in construction and highly efiicient for the purpose intended. i

For further comprehension of the objects and advantages of the invention, reference will be had to the ac,- companying drawings and to the description thereof to follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of a sectional pile driven into the ground with a joint embodying my invention shown in the ground joining the two bottom sections of the pile and with a partly assembled joint shown above the ground, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a pile shell section showing one step in the assembling of the joint.

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing another step in the assembling of the joint.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the inner sleeve member of the joint.

FIG. .6 .is a part elevational and part sectional view of the liner member of the joint.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the outer sleeve member of the joint.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a fragment of a liner member of the joint of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a pile embodying another modified form of joint.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIG. 9, the joint being shown in disassembled condition.

FIG. 11 is a central vertical sectional view through still another modified form of joint, joining two pile shell sections.

3,125,858 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing still another modified form of joint.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the form of joint of FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive.

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a joint embodying yet another modified form of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve being shown in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the inner sleeve.

Referring now in'detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG, 1, a fragment of a sectional pile 10 composed of helically threaded pile shell sections 12, 14 and 16 in end to end abutting relation, with the bottom section 12 driven into the ground G, the intermediate section 14 being partly driven into the ground and the top section 16 above the ground, A joint 18 made in accordance with the present invention is elfected between the bottom shell 12 the ends of the shell sections being along the line 2%) as seen in FIG. 1.

Over the line of abutment 20 and centered or aligned with respect thereto is positioned the joint 18. The joint is composed broadly of a metal sleeve 22, on the outside, a metal inner sleeve 24 and a resilient liner 26 on the inner surface of the inner sleeve 24. The inner sleeve 24 with its liner 26 constitute a unit.

Referring to FIG. 7, the outer sleeve 22 has a steel tubular body 28, circular in cross-section, with a bulgedout or enlarged portion 3t? at its top end, forming a slanting shoulder 32 at its juncture with the body of the sleeve. At its opposite or bottom end, the body terminates in an inwardly bent or slanting portion 34.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, the inner sleeve 24 has a thin steel tubular body 36, circular in crosssection, slightly smaller in dimensions than the dimensions of the outer sleeve 22. One end of the body 36 of the sleeve, the top end, is formed with an annular flange 38. At its opposite or bottom end, the body terminates in a bent-in end 40 which presses against the edge of the material of the liner member 26. A plurality of spaced slots 42 extend from a point remote from one end, the top end, to and through the opposite or bottom end.

The liner member 26 as illustrated in FIG. 6, cornprises a tubular body 44, circular in cross-section slightly smaller in dimensions than the dimensions of the inner sleeve 24. The body is composed of moulded hard rubber, semi-rigid plastic or other suitable semi-rigid sub stance. On its inner surface, the body is formed with helical threads 46 conforming to the threads 48 of the shell sections 12 and 14, the outer surface of the liner member being smooth and suitably secured to the inner surface of the sleeve 24 by adhesive, such as cement.

In practicing my invention, a pile shell section, such as the section 12 is driven into the ground G leaving a portion protruding thereahove as shown in FIG. 2. The outer steel sleeve 22 is sleeved over the protruding portion and rests upon the ground as shown in FIG. 2. The unit consisting of the inner sleeve 24 and its liner 26 is threaded onto the protruding portion of the pile shell section, leaving a portion of the unit protruding slightly above the top of the outer sleeve 22 with the bottom end of the inner sleeve 24 slightly above the bottom end 34 of the outer sleeve 22 as seen in FIG. 3.

The intermediate pile shell section 14 is next placed on top of the shell section 12 in abutting relation, the section 14 having first been adjusted so that the threads of the sections 12 and 14 are matched as shown in FIG. 3.

Next the .unit is threaded upwardly over and along the shell sections 12 and 14 until the abutment 20 is midway the ends of the unit as shown in FIG. 1 at the top. The

next step is to drive the shell sections 14 and 12 down wardly by means of the hammer and associated parts.

During the driving of the pile sections 14 and 12 downwardly, the unit consisting of the inner sleeve 24 and liner 26 is carried therealong and the flange 3% on the top end of the inner sleeve 24 strikes the shoulder 32, of the outer sleeve 22. During the downward movement of the inner sleeve24 downwardly through the outer sleeve 22, the bent-in end 34 of the outer sleeve rides up over the bent-in end 40 of the inner sleeve 24 and upward for a short distance along the portions of the inner sleeve 34 between the slots 42 whereby said portions are pressed radially inwardly which in turn press the liner member 26 inwardly so that the liner member tightly squeezes the threads of the shell sections 14 and 12, the extent of such inward radial movement being indicated by the space 47 shown in the bottom joint in FIG. 1. The joint is complete as shown at the bottom of FIG. 1. Continued downward movement of the pile shell sections 14 and '12 carries the joint downwardly into and through the ground.

As many pile sections as needed for the particular job may be stacked up on top of each other and similarly joined as shown at the top of FIG. 1, where a joint is shown partly finished between the shell sections 14 and 16.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, inclusive, a modified form of joint 18' similar to joint 18 is shown with the exception that the liner member 26' instead of being a one-piece solid affair is formed of a number of juxtaposed elongated segmental rectangular-shaped rubber strips or segments 59, such as the segment shown in FIG. 8. The segment 50 is formed with an undulated or corrugated edge 52 along each long side edge. The segments are placed side by side with their corrugated edges in mesh.

In forming and assembling the joint 18, the outer sleeve 22' is first slipped over the pile shell section 12 and next the inner sleeve 24 is slipped over the shell section inside the outer sleeve as shown in FIG. 10. The shell section 14' is then placed on top of shell section 12' in abutting relation. The liner segments 50 are next placed around the line of abutment 2t) and secured together by cement and also secured to the shell sections 14 and 12' by cement, forming a continuous liner sleeve as seen in FIG. 9. The shell sections 14' and 12' are next driven into the ground in the usual manner by a hammer and the liner member 26' is carried downwardly therewith into the inner sleeve 24 carrying the inner sleeve 24' along. Movement of the inner sleeve causes the flange 38 thereof to strike the shoulder 32 on the outer sleeve 22' and drive the outer sleeve downwardly into and through the ground, in the manner of the form of FIG. 1. Movement of inner sleeve 24' relative to the outer sleeve 22' causes the outer sleeve to press the slotted portions of the inner sleeve 24' radially inwardly which causes the liner 26 to squeeze against the threads of the shell section 14' and 12.

The modified form of joint 18x shown in FIG. 11 only differs from the joint 18 shown in FIG. 1 in that the pile shell sections 12x and 14x are smooth and not helical, and the liner member 26x is correspondingly smooth. Similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts throughout.

Referring now to the modified form of joint 18a shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, this joint 18a differs from the joint 18 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, in that the liner member 26a is formed by spirally winding a strip 56 of flexible rubber or plastic material around the abutment line 20a on both sides thereof and over the adjacent end portions of the shell sections 14a and 12a as shown in FIG. 13. One surface of the body of the strip is flat as indicated at 58 and the opposite surface thereof is formed with a round bead or enlargement 60 along the center thereof. The strip is wound around the abutting ends of the sections with its long edges or edges of the spirals in abutment with each other and with the bead portion 6i} seated in the threads 48a of the sections 12a and 14a.

The abutting edges may be secured together by adhesive such as cement and the beaded portion 66 may be similarly secured to the threads of the sections.

The joint 15a is assembled similarly to the assembly of joint 13'.

In all other respects, the joint 18a is similar to joint 18' and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts throughout.

With particular reference to the modified form of joint 13 shown in FIGS. 15 to 18, inclusive, the joint herein shown comprises a pair of outer sleeve sections 22", an inner sleeve 24" and a liner member 26". Each outer sleeve section 22" has a steel tubular body 2% circular in cross-section, with an annular flange 30" at one end and a bent or inwardly slanting portion 34 at its other end. A series of spaced smooth-walled holes 64 is formed around each annular flange 30".

The inner sleeve 24" comprises a thin steel tubular body 35", circular in cross-section, slightly smaller in dimensions than the dimensions of the outer sleeve sec tions 22". A ring constituting an annular flange 38 encircles the body 36" midway its ends and is secured thereto by welding as indicated at 66. A series of spaced smooth-walled holes 68 are provided around the flange. A plurality of elongated slots 42" extend from a point remote from the annular flange 38" above and below the flange as viewed in FIG. 17 to and through the opposite ends of the body.

The liner member 26" is similar to the liner member 26a of the joint shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, inclusive, and consists of a spirally wound strip 58" of flexible rubber or plastic material around the abutment line 20" on both sides thereof and over the adjacent end portions of the shell sections 14 and 12" as shown in FIG. 16. One surface of the body is fiat and the opposite surface is formed with a semi-round bead or enlargement 60" along the center thereof.

In assembling the joint 18", the outer sleeve sections 22" and theinner sleeve section 24" may be assembled as a unit at the factory and shipped to the site. In assembling this unit, the top outer sleeve section 22 may be slid downwardly over the inner sleeve 24" until its bent end 34 engages the outer or upper end of the inner sleeve as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 17, with the holes 64 in its flange 30" in register with the holes 68 in the flange 38" of the inner sleeve. The other outer sleeve section 22" may then be slid upwardly over the other end of the inner sleeve until its bent end 34" contacts the outer bot tom end of the inner sleeve as shown in FIG. 17, with the holes 64 in its flange 30" in register with the holes 63. Stud and nut assemblies are used for drawing the outer sleeve sections 22" inwardly over the inner sleeve toward each other. Each assembly comprises an elongated stud 749 threaded at both ends as indicated at 72, 73, with a nut 74 threaded over each end of the stud. The shanks of the studs are inserted through the holes in the flange 38 and the nuts threaded over and along each protruding end of the studs. When the nuts are properly turned, the flanges of the outer sleeve sections as well as the sections are drawn toward each other from the position of FIG. 17 to the position of FIG. 15.

At the site, the shell section 12" is driven into the ground with a portion thereof protruding above the ground. In forming the joint at the site, the unit consisting of the outer sleeve sections and the inner sleeve is slid over the protruding end of the shell section 12" and is moved downwardly therealong to the ground, remote from the top end of the shell section. The liner strip member 26" is then Wound around the protruding end of the shell section 12" above the unit and then the shell section 14" is mounted in position on top of the shell section 12" in abutting relation. The winding of the liner strip member is then continued around the abutment line 219" and around the adjacent end of the shell sections 14", with the abutting edges of the spirals secured to each other by adhesive and with the beaded portion 60" seated in the threads 48" of the shell sections and secured thereto by adhesive.

The next step in the operation of assembling is to raise the unit upwardly over the liner member 26" the inwardly slanting end edge 34" of the upper outer sleeve section 22 sliding over the bottom end edge of the liner member and upwardly along the liner member until the bent end edges 34" of the outer sleeve sections are both extending outwardly of the ends of the liner member as shown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 17. In this position, the holes 64 in the flanges 30" in the outer shell sections are over the threaded ends of the studs 7.0, but with the flanges 329" remote from each other. When the nuts 74 are set upon, the outer flanges 30 and the outer sleeve sections are drawn toward each other from the position of FIG. 17 to the position .of FIG. 15. During this operation, the bent ends 34" of the outer sleeve sections ride over the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots 42 whereby said portions are pressed radially inwardly which in turn press the liner member 26 inwardly so that the liner member tightly squeezes the threads of the shell sections in seal tight condition. The joint is complete as shown in FIGS. and 16.

While the joint 18" is shown as joining two shell sections, it will be understood that this joint is adapted to be used just as effectively for joining any type of pipe sections or tubular members.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that changes in details of construction might be made without departing from the principle of the invention. I desire therefore to be limited only by the state of the prior art and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having helical threads, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein having helical threads on its inner surface, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange seated on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve being inwardly bent pressing the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly.

2. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having helical threads, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein having helical threads on its inner surface, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange seated on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve being inwardly bent pressing the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly, one end of the inner sleeve being bent in and overlapping the adjacent end of the liner.

3. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having helical threads, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with rubber liner therein having helical threads on its inner surface, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange rested on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve being inwardly bent pressing the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly, said liner being composed of a plurality of elongated segments secured together along their long sides, the long sides being formed with mating corrugations.

4. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having smooth walls, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein having smooth outer and inner wall surfaces, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange seated on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve being inwardly bent pressing the portions of the inner steel sleeve between the slots inwardly.

5. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having helical threads, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein having helical threads on its inner surface, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange seated on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve being inwardly bent pressing the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly, said liner being constituted by a wrap-around strip of flexible material.

6. A joint for connecting pile shell sections having helical threads, comprising an outer steel sleeve, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein having helical threads on its inner surface, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting one end thereof, said outer steel sleeve having an annular bulged out portion at one end thereof forming a shoulder, said inner steel sleeve having an annular radial flange seated on the shoulder of said bulged out portion of the outer steel sleeve, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted end of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the other end of the outer sleeve, said other end of the outer steel sleeve inwardly of the slotted end of the inner steel sleeve having an inwardly bent portion pressing the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly, said liner being constituted by a wrap-around strip of flexible material, the elongated body of said strip having a flat surface on one side and a beaded surface on the other side, the beaded surface adapted to engage in the threads of the pile shell sections.

7. In a joint for connecting pile shell sections, an outer steel sleeve of two separate sections, each section having an annular flange at one end, the other end being bent inwardly, an inner steel sleeve with a rubber liner therein, said inner steel sleeve having elongated spaced slots intersecting both ends thereof, said outer sleeve closely fitted over said inner sleeve, the slotted ends of said inner sleeve protruding outwardly of the bent ends of the outer sleeve sections, an annular flange midway the ends of the inner sleeve, the flanges of the outer sleeve sections and the flange of the inner sleeve having spaced registering holes, said flanges being superimposed upon one another,

and stud and nut assemblies coacting with the holes for drawing the flanges of the outer sleeve sections and the sections toward each other, whereby the inwardly bent ends of the sections press the portions of the inner sleeve between the slots inwardly and press the rubber liner inwardly.

8. In a joint for connecting two pile shell sections in end to end abutting relation, a rubber strip wound spirally around the abutment between the sections and around the adjacent ends of the sections, a steel inner sleeve sleeved over the rubber strip in contact therewith, said steel sleeve having an annular flange midway its ends and having spaced elongated slots intersecting both ends sections, said bent ends of the outer sleeve sections pressing the adjacent portions of the inner sleeve between the slots as well as the rubber strip inwardly against the shell sections.

9. The point defined in claim 8 wherein the flanges have registering holes and bolt and nut assemblies coact with the holes for drawing the outer sleeve sections over the inner sleeve in pressing relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,828 Duncan Oct. 19, 189.7 987,683 Allan Mar. 21, 1911 2,087,384 Lee July 20, 1937 2,440,864 Liss May 4, 1948 2,896,976 Wiltse July 28, 1959 2,926,500 Hoppe Mar. 1, 1960 

1. A JOINT FOR CONNECTING PILE SHELL SECTIONS HAVING HELICAL THREADS, COMPRISING AN OUTER STEEL SLEEVE, AN INNER STEEL SLEEVE WITH A RUBBER LINER THEREIN HAVING HELICAL THREADS ON ITS INNER SURFACE, SAID INNER STEEL SLEEVE HAVING ELONGATED SPACED SLOTS INTERSECTING ONE END THEREOF, SAID OUTER STEEL SLEEVE HAVING AN ANNULAR BULGED OUT PORTION AT ONE END THEREOF FORMING A SHOULDER, SAID INNER STEEL SLEEVE HAVING AN ANNULAR RADIAL FLANGE SEATED ON THE SHOULDER OF SAID BULGED OUT PORTION OF THE OUTER STEEL SLEEVE, SAID OUTER SLEEVE CLOSELY FITTED OVER SAID INNER SLEEVE, THE SLOTTED END OF SAID INNER SLEEVE PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY OF THE OTHER END OF THE OUTER SLEEVE, SAID OTHER END OF THE OUTER STEEL SLEEVE INWARDLY OF THE SLOTTED END OF THE INNER STEEL SLEEVE BEING INWARDLY BENT PRESSING THE PORTIONS OF THE INNER SLEEVE BETWEEN THE SLOTS INWARDLY. 